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Sport separation, past experiences and pre event expectations; conversations with the Para-Equestrian Dressage riders D. de Haan

7th Annual ParalympicsGB Sports Science, Sport Medicine and Coaching Conference

Introduction: The multi-sport structure of the is one of the main elements that differentiate the Paralympics from other major sporting competitions for Para-Equestrian Dressage athletes. As equestrian sports require unique venues and facilities, they are often situated varying distances away from the athletics stadium which is often seen as the most iconic Paralympic image and a symbol of the heart of the Games. In 2008 the equestrian team were based in Hong Kong approximately 1225 miles away from the Paralympic Stadium in , in 2012 the distance between the equestrian venue (Greenwich) and the Paralympic stadium (Stratford) will be approximately 6 miles. It is unknown whether these different levels of physical separation affect an athlete’s sense of belonging and inclusion and ultimately their personal ‘Paralympic experience’.

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore if past experiences would influence future expectations of ‘Paralympic experience’ specifically in relation to the physical separation of equestrian sport at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games.

Method: Five members of the British Para-Equestrian Dressage team were interviewed post selection but prior to going out to Hong Kong. All riders were asked about their expectations of what life would be like for them based in Hong Kong during the 2008 Paralympic Games. All interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim and validated by the participants. Transcripts were then exposed to content analysis to indentify key themes (Gubrium & Holstein, 2001). Results: Below are some rider quotes, selected on the themes of ‘past experience’, ‘future expectations’, and ‘separation from Beijing’.

Simon Laurens Ricky Balshaw 41 year old Grade III rider, Beijing will be his first Games. 21 year old Grade 1b rider, Beijing will be his first Games. I’m mostly looking forward to the competition itself I don’t I think at the end of the day you’re there to compete at your sports so whether or not there’s other things going on, really like being beaten. If you’re going to compete at this it’s probably better that there’s not because you won’t be as distracted. So yeah it’s just another competition really level, there’s only one reason and that’s to win. All I can and you just focus on your sport. I know that our competition day is four days from the end of the Games so we get say is I’m going to give it 120% even if it means coming to go back into Beijing then and as I say chill in the village. back in a body bag I shall give it everything I’ve got. [Not being based in Hong Kong] it does kind of exclude us, for god sake we’re 8 hours away it’s not like we can just pop Debbie Criddle in the car and go and have a look. I’m going to miss that 42 year old, Grade III rider. Debbie has previously because it’s just going to be another huge Para-Dressage competed at & Athens. competition. It’s the Olympic games and you’re going I think in Sydney we missed a lot by not being with there live but you’re not going to get to see anything else the main squad although we had the freedom, it’s or soak up any of the other atmosphere because I can like pros and cons, it’s a quieter set up you could imagine the atmosphere is going to be amazing for us but concentrate more you had more time to yourself gosh can you imagine what its going to be like when than in Athens (where the team stayed in the main you’ve got all the other sports involved and all the other Athlete Village). If we’re lucky I think we’ll go to people involved. Beijing, and experience the whole thing, which I think is good, especially for the newcomers because, again it’s a totally different thing staying in 20 year old Grade 1a rider, previously competed in Athens the Paralympic village than just doing your own I went to Athens when I was 16, I was like the baby of the kind of thing. Well much more noisy and you do team. That was an utterly life changing experience just become aware of the other sports. being so young. I used to be quite shy and embarrassed about my speech and everything but it gave me real 44 year old, Grade I rider. Anne has competed in every Games since Atlanta confidence, having to cope with the media and stuff so it In Atlanta, the Paralympics didn’t have much status, in fact they were even dismantling some of the stuff around really changed my life. Being with other disabled athletes it us at one point. In Sydney it did matter, it was as important as the Olympics had been, so it was just such a boosted my confidence because you literally look around fantastic experience. Hong Kong will be a different atmosphere, it won’t be as big. But we will get to see all the and there are people much worse off than you and you just other athletes because we’re going up for the closing ceremony. So we’ll get the experience of being in the village felt that what are you moaning for? I mean if they can do it I with everybody and the awe-inspiring thing of seeing how some of the third world people cope with doing their can, so it really gave me a boost. I’ve been working sport. That’s always such a humbling experience because … they manage with just a stick to help them and it’s towards this [Games] for four years, I am a bit sad that it’s an old stick they’ve just picked up and polished and there’s you with a push wheelchair, I mean if I was in the third not all together with the other sports because they say it world I’d just be sat in a hut and shuffling around on my bum so I’m just looking forward to that, being in the village won’t feel like a Paralympics but we’ll see. I hoping all the because that’s always such a great experience. hard work will pay off because when it does that is literally the best feeling in the world.

Discussion & Conclusion Prior to competition the concept of sport separation did not distract the Para-Equestrian Dressage riders from their medal focus. They appeared to be able to separate ‘competition expectations’ from ‘Paralympic experience’. However, it was felt that the ‘Paralympic experience’ would be different in Hong Kong compared to Beijing with a sense of separation during the competition and an anticipated sense of inclusion when in Beijing for the closing ceremony.

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